Recalls Recalls All Around

DETROIT, April 29, 2003; Reuters reports tha Nissan Motor Co. will recall 268,000 vehicles to fix an engine part that could cause a fire, and was working to fix another problem that could also lead to a fire, federal safety officials said on Tuesday.

The monthly list of auto recalls from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also included recalls involving General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler arm and other automakers.

The NHTSA said Nissan's recall covered 2002 and 2003 Nissan Altima and Sentra cars sold with 2.5 liter four-cylinder engines. A pin on the exhaust pipe hanger can catch road debris, which could catch fire from the heat of the engine. Dealers will remove the protruding part of the pin.

But the NHTSA also said Nissan was still trying to solve a problem with the catalyst that could eventually lead to the engine burning oil and possibly a fire. Nissan spokespeople did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Other recalls announced by NHTSA on Tuesday include:

--Ford will replace the windshields on 67,894 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans that don't meet federal standards. Ford spokesman Glenn Ray said NHTSA found a problem with the windshields on some 2002 and 2003 models, which Ford traced to an assembly problem.

--GM will recall about 52,000 of its Cadillac CTS luxury sedans to fix a bolt on the steering shaft which could loosen, potentially causing the driver to lose control. The automaker said it was aware of two instances where the bolt loosened, but no crashes resulted.

Cadillac dealers will inspect the steering shaft and ensure that the bolt is tightened, GM said.

--Chrysler will recall 287,725 2002 Dodge Ram pickups to fix a wiring problem that could cause the heater fan to shut off.

--BMW AG will recall 5,110 of its Mini Cooper cars to fix a screw on the rear suspension struts that could break.